Chapter 206 - Try To Be Happy
While Daniel carries on with his rambling, Charles only continues watching him in both incredulity and pity.
For not recognizing Cassidy as the wife of his own boss, he finds him ridiculously unbelievable. But for falling for the same woman he used to have feelings for, he couldn't help but be sympathetic. A broken heart is not easy to piece back together, after all.
"I can't believe how blind I was. I never thought I could be so stupid," Daniel muttered underneath his breath before he turned back to the window to see Cassidy and Adrian rubbing their noses against each other like a couple of dorks.
"Wow. What a sight this is," someone from behind them chimed in all of the sudden, stealing their attention.
They turned around to find Olivia walking in their direction. At this point, they are no longer that surprised by her visit, considering that she does it more often than not. She is still in her teacher uniform this time, which must mean that she has only gotten out of her work.
"Good afternoon, Ma'am Olivia," Charles greeted with a smile.
"Hello. I've dropped by again..." Oliva beamed at him before she looked at Daniel who tried not to flinch under the sudden attention.
"I pretty much grasped the situation here. Seemed like you weren't aware for a while. I couldn't blame you for not noticing it was Cassidy, though. Back then, all of us had been surpised by the change in her. We couldn't recognize her at all. Onto another important matter, she had gotten back together with Adrian recently. If you weren't paying attention on what's happening around him, you wouldn't really find out about it. To be honest, Charles and I just figured it out yesterday."
"What?! Only yesterday?! Were they that secretive?!"
"They just didn't want to make a fuss about it. Besides, they deserve the privacy. And you wouldn't really go around telling others that you and your wife had gotten back together, would you?"
"W-Well, you have a point."
Right then, Olivia peers at the bouquet of flowers that Daniel is holding. When he sees this, he blushes in embarrassment and tries to hide it. She notices his abashed reaction which makes her smile once more, seemingly entertained by what she has come to realize at that moment.
"Didn't you also have a huge crush on her for a while, Charles?" Olivia then brought up out of nowhere, taking them aback.
"Two things. One, I am never ever drinking alcohol again when you and Ma'am Irish are within a ten-mile-radius. I only had that crush for a year, okay? Two, I think that the President and Ma'am Cassidy suit each other more," Charles said in defense, daring her to argue.
"Whatever you say~"
"So, you also fell for her too, huh...?" Daniel blurted out and slumped in defeat.
"I guess it's inevitable-"
Then, the door opened.
Surprised, they turned around to find Cassidy and Adrian walking out of the office - holding each other's hand and laughing like two lovesick teenagers. They halted on their tracks upon seeing them stalling around there.
"Oh, Charlie and Ofelia! Daniel too...!" Cassidy chimed in, not expecting to find the three of them together.
"What're you guys doing here?"
"This gentleman here is looking for you, Cassidy," Olivia busted Daniel out, making him go pale and feel betrayed.
"Really now?" Adrian muttered with a scowl - which seemed to deepen when he noticed the bouquet he was holding.
Now that Daniel knew about their relationship, he finally understood that Adrian was not only being protective whenever someone tried to make a move on Cassidy.
He's also possessive, going by that icy-cold glare of his which got him frozen all over.
'She's mine so you better back the hell off!' is practically what that look is all about.
"Looking for me? What's up...?" Cassidy asked, tilting her head to the side before noticing that flowers.
"Oh! Did you buy those for that person you kept talking about?! The one you said you started liking these days, I mean. If you want my advice, I bet she'll love those!"
"U-U-Uhhhh... Y-Y-Yeah! I needed your advice!"
Daniel had no choice.
Not only did he have to give up, but he also had to lie. If he wanted to avoid getting on the bad side of his boss, he had to. To his relief, his lame-ass excuse was enough for him to stop glaring at him.
"Cassidy and I were just planning to get going. Are you sure it's alright for me to leave early?" Adrian questioned, turning to his secretary.
"Yeah, it's alright. I'd been absent for a while, anyway. I had to thank Ma'am Cassidy for filling in for me somehow," Charles answered with a reassuring smile.
"You're welcome, Charlie. I'm glad I can help you for once," Cassidy chirped blithely.
"Cassidy has gotten quite good with office work, I see. How great," Olivia complimented, earning her smile for once which made her blush.
Feeling out of place, Daniel only buried his face in the bouquet and tried to focus on counting the petals. Charles and Olivia glanced at him before smiling a little and letting out a sympathetic sigh.
"Anyway, we'll be going now," Adrian said for the last time before holding Cassidy by her waist and pulling her away.
As they reach the elevator, Daniel finally sees them as the couple they are all along. He caught them exchanging fond looks right before the doors closed. Only then did he wonder how he never thought about that when they had been regarding each other with such love.
All three of them remain in silence until Charles talks once more and puts his hand on his shoulder.
"If you want my advice, find another crush first because nothing and I mean nothing can get between those two," he told him firmly to which he could only nod weakly.
With a nod of his own, Charles finally walked out together with Olivia, leaving Daniel all by himself. He feels a sting in his heart knowing that Cassidy is actually in a relationship - with his boss no less. After all, she is sweet, fun and pretty. However, he had only ever tried to get to know her after she changed so much. He didn't care before.
More than anything, Cassidy and Adrian obviously adore each other, and if they're happy, Daniel will just try to be happy for them as well.